Combined truck and elevator



.May 4, 1948.

R. F. GORDON COMBINED TRUCK AND ELEVATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 15, 1945 L/z /5 r awum vbom May4,1948. RFGORDON 2.440.681

COMBINED TRUCK AND ELEVATO Filed Oct. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L I gwucwvbo'f/ y 1948. R.-F. GORDON COMBINED TRUCK AND ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 15, 1945 3 sheets-sheets IooIooo goooekooo 3mm 60 rdon 66 of Figure 3a,

Patented May 4, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED TRUCK AND ELEVATOR Roy F. Gordon, Bennington, Nebr. Application October 15, 1945, Serial No. 622,410

6 Claims.

This invention relates to portable cranes or hoists for handling articles or materials. It is particularly useful lifting and handling or transporting elongated heavy articles such as sides of meat and other relatively heavy articles which are ordinarily handled with difliculty byone man but for which the services of two men are ordinarily too expensive or unnecessary.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide what may be termed a one-man portable crane or hoist which may be used or moved around conveniently by one man.

A further object of theinvention is to provide in combination a crane mounted on a warehouse truck.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scopeof the invention as claimed. H r

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is aside view of the device,

Figure 2 is a front view, e A e Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the crane part,

, w Figure 3a is an enlarged view of the truck showing the uprights on which the crane is mounted,

Figure 4 is a detail enlarged view of the upper part of the truck taken on the line 4-4 of Figure3a,, i V

Figure 5 is adetail enlarged rear view of e the cranes hoist drum, a

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line Figure 7. is a sectional view of the hoist bars taken on the line 'l-'l of Figure 3, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line B8 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally a hand truck whichis formed of a pair of elongated bars ll having curved handles I2 at their rear ends. The elongated bars H are connected together by means of transversely extending connecting members I 3, l4, l5 and 16. A pair of wheels I! are disposed below the forward ends of the sidebars ll being rotatably mounted on an axle or shaft I8 carried by bearings l9 secured to the lower sides of the side bars H.

The trucklll has extending obtusely from the cured to the upper sides ofa pairof angled straps or :bars '2 I which have one side thereof projecting obtusely from the forward ends of the side members l l and which has the other side thereof engaging on the upper side of a side member II and secured thereto by fastening members 22, The angled bars 2| are connected together by means of a pair of connecting bars '23 and 24, the latter being the forward bar which is bevelled as indicated at 25, so that the base may, if desired, be pushed beneath an object for positioning the object on the base plate 20. An elevating frame, generally designated as 26, rises from the base supporting bars 2| and is formed of a pair of upright parallel channel members 21 which are braced by means of a pair of crossed bracing members 28. The channel members 21 have their upper ends bent inwardly in upwardly convergent relation, as indicated at 29, and. the upper ends of the extensions 29 are then bent, upwardly in parallel relation as indicated at 30.

The frame 26 is adjustably supported with respect to the truck H! by means of a pair of bearing members 3| secured one to each of the base supporting bars 2! and a pivot 32 extends through the lower ends of the uprightframe bars 21, so that the frame 26 may be angularly adjusted, with respect to the truck Ill. The frame 26 is secured. in adjusted position with respect to the truck I!) .by means of a pair of elongated bars 33 which are each pivotally secured at their forward ends on a pivot 34 carried by a side or upright frame member 21. The bars 33 engage on the inner sides of the side members II and are connected together at their ,rear ends by a connecting bar 35. A pair of plates 36 are secured by fastening members 31 to the side members I l of the truck and engage on the inner sides of the bars 33. These plates 36 form guides for the adjusting bars 33 and each bar 33 is formed in its lower edge with a plurality of notches 38, within which the lower one of the pair of fastening members 31 is adapted to engage so as to adjustably hold the bars 33 with respect to the truck III.

The parallel extensions 30 at the upper end of the frame 26 are connected together by means of a pair of plates 39 secured to the opposite sides of the extensions 30 thereby forming a guide space Within which an elongated vertically adjustable .bar 40 is adapted to loosely engage.

The bar 4!) is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced apart openings 4| through which a securing pin 42 is adapted to-selectively engage, the pin 42 engaging through the webs of the channel members 30 and thereby holding the 3 bar as in vertically adjusted position. A pulley or sheave 43 is rotatably carried by the upper end of the bar 49 being mounted between a pair of supporting plates M which are secured to the upper end of the bar 40. A U-shaped guard 45 is secured to the sheave mounting or supporting members i l and serves to retain the flexible elevating member in the form of a chain in the groove of the pulley or sheave; 43. The winding drumllfi is .rotatably carried by a base structure 41, which is secured to the rear side of the frame 2%.

One or more bracing members 49. The drum 46 includes a ratchet wheel 50 mounted on the drum shaft and a crank 52 is securedlto;

the drum shaft 5!. A pawl 53 rockably mounted on a pivot 54 is constantly held in engagement with the ratchet 56 by means of an elongated handlez55 extending downwardly from the pivot fi lso that'the pawl 53 will be gravitatingly held in ratchet engaging position and the handle E5 provides a means whereby the pawl 53-m-ay be readily swung to a disengaged position. A flexible article elevating member 55 is wound about the drum 45 and trained over the pulley or'sheave 43; The elevating member 56 has a hook" or article supporting member 57' secured to the free end thereof and which engages on the forwardside of the frame 45; Preferably the forward side of the frame it has secured thereto -a plate'53, which may be in the form of plywood or the like, so that meat or other heavy elongated articles may be suspended. from'ithe hook '51-andwill not contact'with the frame. 26. In order to provide a means whereby the elongated-article, which is suspended from the hook 57; will beheld against undue lateralishift-ing, I have provided a U-shaped holdingbar fid'which has the bight E55 rockably extended through .anglemembers t! fixed to the rear sides of the frame members 2?. The free arms "62 of 'the I -shaped member 59 are adapted to beswung downwardly and forwardly at' a substantially 5 right-angular position, with'respect to the covering plate-53 and are held in this right angular position bymeans of angled stopmembersifiii ESS -carried by the truck iii and is secured at.

itsaupper endto one of the bars V The truck andthe hoist or craneis-adapte te -be held against movement along the floor-1 or plane-shaft by means of a Ueshaped: anchoring or holding member 66 which has the freelegs thereof fixed to the shaft l8 and extendsrearwardly. from the shaft. Thebight 61' of. the holding member 86 isrearmcst and is. adapted to engage the floor or plane surface and is adapted .to be held against the floor by a foot or thetlike of the user. A chain or flexible member 68 is secured at one end to the abight'fi'l being. secured, to an eye 69 carriedby the 1 ightrfil and secured at its other or upper end toan 'eyebolt lit which is secured to the transyersezconnecting bar H5. The holding member fifijis held in disengaged position, which is the "dottedline position shown in FigureSa, bymeans (oilazsp'rin'g clip ll which'is fixed -to therear side ofithe transverse connecting member [5."

The base structure 41 is. mounted on a horizontally disposed plate 43 which is braced with respect to the frame 2am The frame Ckll'lg,'barS:5()

4 In the use and operation of this device it may be stated that the device has been particularly designed as a portable hoist or crane designed for use in charging or placing articles in a cold locker. 5 The article, which may be a side of meat, is secured to the hook 51 and the article is then elevated so that the article will be suspended on the forward side of the frame 26. The holding bars 62 are swungedownwardly to aright angular position 10 with respect to;the forward side of 'the lplate or cover 58. The truck and hoist may then be moved to the locker or refrigerator and when in desired v position, the anchoring member 66 may be swung downwardly to'fioor engaging position whereupon 5 .the.user-may.place one or both feet on the upper side of the" anchoring member 66. The drum 46 'may thenzsberoperated to either elevate or lower thersuspended article until it is in proper position'for placing in either the refrigerator, locker or other compartment. This device is of relatively simple'construction andgprovidessa;.portabieehoist and truck by' m'eans of elongated-cor :h'eavy articles may :b'e'transportedl ioiw shittediromt'zone point to another and-elevated Eior 'loWeredztoihe I desiredposition; This operation? can; be? performed by one-person? so that the use of i this sde- "v-ice w-ill be economical; particularly-where it'is used in a cold storagetplanta Itfwil'lzbeziun-derstood that the pivot members 321t'for-1the;hoist frame zfi rnayqo'e made removable L'sothat the hoist frame may "be removed ifrom 'thextl'llcki al'l'dlthe latter used inthe mannerkwel'l; knowmforrsmall handtrucks'.

The exact configunation:.illustratedis regarded as as the optimum, but some of the desirable results inherent 1 in \thisdisclosure:v mayvbe obtained by various slight modifications .iincludingi some: depa ture-from the exact configurationxshbwn: and it therefore requested" that th'e scope of the invention-"shouldbe regardedas limited oniy bythe termsof'the'claims:

1. A deviceas described consistingof a-platform having connected thereto at its rear endat an obtuse angle an upwardly incliried truck frame with uppermosthandles; a-palr of wheels resting upon the ground along with said platform; means journaling said-wheels uponth'etruck frame on its rear 'side,-' a u-shaped anchoring memberi having its =pa'rail'1 arms swivelly mounted uponrthe' axle of: "said wheels wi-tl i'- 1its crossarir'rextendihgdemotel-y from-"saidw-heelsat a downward inclination upon the ground for foot engagementtoKpro-p saidwheels or I lifting the truck name mporr 'the wheels to elevate the platform; .aridhar l straight eldngatedmpri'ght rigidfram'e 'positioriediat right angles to and upon said platform-for:supportinga load'whosaweighti isiconcen'trated'r upon saidaplatform. T

2;" A devicerof the kindcdescrlbedi consisting of a platform having attachediitheretoat::ahzobtuse angle ag tr uck frame at its rear, aapairl'of wheels journaledi upon -the'lower rear side of thetruck frame so as to rest =along-with-said platform-upon "the "ground at thebsame time; foot-engageable Tmeansior pressing down upomsaid-wheels while pressingdownwarulyupondthe truck -frametotilt same .upon saidjwheel'stoelevate the platform, 70 t hoi st'ingemeans Qcarried .by said "platform; downwardlypressedfopposit'ly arranged' bracing arms carried by said hoisting means pivotany and engagingthe truck frame adjustablylto -angularly disposesthe zhoisting imeans upon saidplatform,

pand means; pivotally mountings-said .Ihoisting means upon said platform for shifting its center of gravity towards and from said truck frame.

3. In a device of the kind described a hand truck consisting of a flat platform and an upwardly inclined truck frame formed at an obtuse angle upon the rear end of said platform, journal brackets carried by the rear side of said truck frame at its lower end, an axle mounted in said brackets, a pair of traction Wheels made fast upon said axle and having their lower dead centers in line with the under face of said platform, a U-shaped anchoring member having its parallel arms pivotally mounted upon said axle, a chain connecting the outer cross arm of the anchoring member at one end and secured to the truck frame at its other end, and a keeper on said frame in which the cross arm of said anchoring member may be held with a clip-like effect in upright position alongside of the frame.

4. In a device as described, a hand truck including a platform, an upright hoisting boom having lower end pivotally mounted at the rear end of the platform, a sheave carried by the upper end of the boom, said hand truck including oppositely arranged side bars, a pair of keeper bars mounted longitudinally of the inner sides of the truck frame side bars in spaced relation to provide between them and said bars guide slots, a pair of oppositely arranged brace members formed longitudinally with spaced apart notches, and extending through said guide slots adjustably, bolts passing through said side bars and keeper bars to secure them together, said brace members adapted to have any selective notched portion engaged with two of said bolts to adiustably position them relatively to the truck frame, means pivotally connecting the free ends of said brace members to said boom; springs connected to said bracing members and extending diagonally downwardly for attachment to said truck frame, and a cross bar connecting the brace members at their outermost ends.

5. In a device of the kind described a truck platform, a flat-sided bearing plate having its lower end pivoted to said platform, and having an upper tapering portion with a transverse horizontal edge, a skeleton reinforcement for the rear side of said plate consisting of channel-shaped sills secured longitudinally and marginally against the marginal portions of said plate and converging conformably to the tapering portions of said plate at their upper ends, the webs of said converging portions of said sills, in a plane with the mentioned transverse horizontal edge, being separated to provide a slit, an upstanding guide communicating with said slit, a bar slidable in said slit and guide, a sheave carried at the top of said slidable bar, and means holding the slidable bar in adjusted position insaid guide.

6. A combined hand truck and elevator comprising a platform, a wheeled truck frame connected to said platform and inclined at an obtuse angle thereto, an anchoring member rockably mounted on the lower end of said frame bar extending at a downward and rearward inclination for engagement with the ground for root engagement to prop said wheels, an upright frame on said platform and a hoisting means carried by said upright frame.

ROY F. GORDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 342,950 Caldwell June 1, 1886 531,948 Judd et a1 Jan. 1, 1895 791,968 Wiley June 6, 1905 937,256 Minnick Oct. 19, 1909 1,015,393 Murphy Jan. 23, 1912 1,331,938 McConnell et a1. Feb. 24, 1920 1,431,861 Adams Oct. 1 0, 1922 1,732,153 Crichton Oct. 15, 1929 1,824,339 Foradas et al Sept. 22, 1931 1,827,209 Robbin Oct. 13, 1931 1,856,082 Remde May 3, 1932 2,108,480 Foster Feb. 15, 1938 2,198,793 Schroeder Apr. 30, 1940 2,389,872 Ruger et a1 Nov. 27, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 273,003 Great Britain June 27, 1927 

